Is Nidal Hasan Army or Islam?

Can the United States seriously be bending over backwards for a mass murderer?There is something peculiar in this case, again. The first instance was the omission of any reference to Islam or the Muslim chants of the murderer as he killed 13 people and wounded others at Fort Hood.

Now we get the undue delay from non-Army regulation facial hair -- in short, the beard. Growing it against Army regulations. So Hasan is still considered "in the Army," meaning that, unbelievably, Nadal Hassan is still being paid! What does one have to do to get suspended without pay?

And why this courtesy of letting Hasan enjoy the protections of both the Army and his religion, when they are in conflict? He can't; he shouldn't have it both ways.

If he wants the beard, the religion, and all their legal trappings, he should be dismissed from the Army. If he wishes to enjoy the protection -- and pay -- of the Army, he should be forced to conform to its regulations. There are provisions for nonconsensual hair removal in the military. Why are they not invoked? Who is scared of whom here?

Suddenly, Hasan's faith trumps his obligations as a member of the military. It is time to declare who you are, exactly. You cannot enjoy the protections of each. Are you Army or Islam?

Why does this man enjoy such special status? Why are the religious facts of this case so guarded and coddled? What is going on behind the scenes? Someone made the previous call to sanitize the initial report of any reference to Islam. Now we get the ridiculous delay over some facial hair accommodation based on just the religion that was not mentioned in the official report.

There is a conflict here. The religion was not an issue for the crime, but it seems suddenly important in his treatment and defense. What gives?

The pendulum that is political correctness has hit the wall. Does anyone wonder what the 13 families think of the beard?

There is something peculiar in this case, again. The first instance was the omission of any reference to Islam or the Muslim chants of the murderer as he killed 13 people and wounded others at Fort Hood.

Now we get the undue delay from non-Army regulation facial hair -- in short, the beard. Growing it against Army regulations. So Hasan is still considered "in the Army," meaning that, unbelievably, Nadal Hassan is still being paid! What does one have to do to get suspended without pay?

And why this courtesy of letting Hasan enjoy the protections of both the Army and his religion, when they are in conflict? He can't; he shouldn't have it both ways.

If he wants the beard, the religion, and all their legal trappings, he should be dismissed from the Army. If he wishes to enjoy the protection -- and pay -- of the Army, he should be forced to conform to its regulations. There are provisions for nonconsensual hair removal in the military. Why are they not invoked? Who is scared of whom here?

Suddenly, Hasan's faith trumps his obligations as a member of the military. It is time to declare who you are, exactly. You cannot enjoy the protections of each. Are you Army or Islam?

Why does this man enjoy such special status? Why are the religious facts of this case so guarded and coddled? What is going on behind the scenes? Someone made the previous call to sanitize the initial report of any reference to Islam. Now we get the ridiculous delay over some facial hair accommodation based on just the religion that was not mentioned in the official report.

There is a conflict here. The religion was not an issue for the crime, but it seems suddenly important in his treatment and defense. What gives?

The pendulum that is political correctness has hit the wall. Does anyone wonder what the 13 families think of the beard?